Want to feature in a future ‘My Group & I’? Get in
touch with us by calling 01908 613323 or emailing
[email protected].Why do you think it’s important for retired people to be
a part of groups like yours?
Like a lot of retirement clubs, you end up with quite a lot
of single people. There are certainly more single ladies than
there are men and our club gives these people the chance to
go on a trip and get to know everyone. This is a much better
and more sociable option for our members, rather than just
sitting in a hall and listening to our monthly meeting.
What advice would you give to someone if they were to
begin organising trips?
I would say planning is key, use the advice given by
reputable companies and always use a reliable coach
operator. Budgeting is also a big part of organising a trip,
so it’s important you budget correctly. Plus, don’t panic if
things start to go slightly wrong, because sometimes things
don’t always go to plan.
Can you share an example of when things have
gone wrong?We had organised a short break to Hereford in 2018 to
take us down the Wye Valley and then into the Forest of
Dean with the help of a Blue Badge Guide. Unfortunately,
the weekend we were there was the same weekend that
the ‘Beast from the East’ storm took over the country. This
meant they closed the road of the Wye Valley so we could
only visit the Forest of Dean. Our guide ended up taking us
to the most obscure places such as JK Rowling’s old school,
and I could see my group’s faces dropping and thinking,
‘what have you taken us out on?’In the end the day turned out to be alright, but it’s made a
little story which always goes down well. That’s the most
important thing though, if you put a bit of humour into
things out of your control, then members will understand
and cooperate to a bad situation much better.- The group were one of the first to visit Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens when it reopened last year.
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My Group & I